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Sunday, May 1, 2016

Hive 1 May Tutorial

Hello from the sunny, soggy low country of South Carolina. I trust that "spring has (finally) sprung" for all of us north of the equator. For those in the southern hemisphere I hope you are welcoming a respite from the worst of summer heat. Whether your beach days are nearly here or fading, I'm requesting this fun, simple block with lots of room for creativity.

GOLDFISH BLOCK

Makes an 8 ½ inch finished block:

Your fish may be one color, or two
colors. Set the fins up, or down. Be as imaginative as you’d like.

Water = clear royal blues, medium to dark with touches
of greens, creams, or whites

These are what I pulled from my stash. No aqua, teal please, and strong bright colors for the fish. Yes, pink is okay if it is a bright strong pink.

The fish can have a 1 color body or a 2 color body, fins can be all the same color or 2 colors

- please have fun with this.

Notes:

I used scant 1/4 inch seams. Iron which every way you find gives the smoothest block.

Half square triangles
can be done many ways, and we each have our personal favorite. I will begin
with sizes of the HSTs in this block, so you can use your way if the method in
the tutorial is not one you like.

The fish body is a finished 4 x 4 inches (4.5 x 4.5 before you put it in the block)

The fish fins are finished 2 x 2 inches (2.5 x 2.5 before you put them in the block)

Together the fins and body make a finished 6 x 6 square (6.5 x 6.5 before you put them in the block)

cut 1 square 2 7/8 inch from each fabric
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Here are the different combinations. I think I got them all.

one color body with same color fins

One color body with different color fins

One color body with 2 colors of fins

Two color body one color fins

Two color body with two colors of fins

SEWING:

To prepare a 2 color body cut each 4 7/8 square in half along the diagonal.
Using only one of each color place two triangles right sides together and stitch along the hypotenuse.

To prepare fins place one 2 7/8 inch blue square right sides together with each 2 7/8 inch fish color square.
Draw a line diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner.
Sew a seam 1/4 inch from either side of the line.
Cut along the drawn line, press the blocks, and square to 2 1/2 inches (if necessary).

draw line

seams sewn (easier to see against the blue)

Cut along drawn line

2 fins, repeat to make other 2 fins

Lay out the block playing with the fin arrangement until you are happy with your fish.
There are almost as many possibilities as there are fish in the sea. (sorry, couldn't help myself)

Here are just a few options...

Note: this one uses 2 solid blue squares and 3 fins

When you have an arrangement you like, sew the small blocks together and add them to the fish's body as you would for a nine patch.

Sew fins together then sew corner block to one set of two fins

Sew the set of 2 fins to body, and then add the set of 3

Sew one set of triangles to opposite sides

then add the other set of triangles

I can't wait for all your finny fishy friends to join mine to welcome the newest member of his generation at the end of June.
OOPS, I feel a song coming on ...